❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Attorney General regarding the Parliamentary Council's Office's capacity to meet legislative drafting priorities, particularly concerning elder abuse law reform and staffing levels. The Attorney General provides figures on drafting workload and staffing, but declines to comment on specific legislative reform details citing Cabinet confidentiality.
AnsweredQoN 1084Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 195 of the departments annual report, which gives an indicator measure of 100 percent in relation to the ability of the Parliamentary Council's Office to meet cabinet's legislative drafting priorities, and I ask: (a) how many Bills are currently the subject of drafting instruction; (b) how many regulations are currently the subject of drafting instructions; (c) further to (a), will any of those Bills give effect to the Government's commitment for elder abuse law reform that is now more than five years late; (d) what is the number of drafters by full time equivalent employed in that office; and (e) what is the number of positions the subject of active recruitment?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 November 2022
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Attorney General
Response time
7 days
(a) 85.
(b) 125.
(c) Matters regarding legislative reform are decisions of Cabinet and are Cabinet in Confidence.
(d) The Parliamentary Council's Office (PCO) employs 22 drafters. Taking into account part-time arrangements and maternity leave, this currently equates to 15.99 FTE. In addition, PCO has currently engaged 9 experienced contract drafters to provide legislative drafting services.
(e) PCO has engaged an international recruitment company to undertake an extensive search and recruitment campaign for qualified legislative drafters, and is authorised to recruit as many suitably qualified drafters, as may be available, to assist with the McGowan Government’s significant legislative reform agenda.
(b) 125.
(c) Matters regarding legislative reform are decisions of Cabinet and are Cabinet in Confidence.
(d) The Parliamentary Council's Office (PCO) employs 22 drafters. Taking into account part-time arrangements and maternity leave, this currently equates to 15.99 FTE. In addition, PCO has currently engaged 9 experienced contract drafters to provide legislative drafting services.
(e) PCO has engaged an international recruitment company to undertake an extensive search and recruitment campaign for qualified legislative drafters, and is authorised to recruit as many suitably qualified drafters, as may be available, to assist with the McGowan Government’s significant legislative reform agenda.
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